2022 COVID Guidance for Camps & In Person Events

We know many have been eagerly anticipating the return of in-person camping for Canada West, and we are excited to share that, barring any dramatic changes in the state of Covid-19, we are moving forward with in-person camping this year.
 
In light of our enduring principles around the worth of all persons, unity in diversity, and personal responsibility, we are offering some guidance. We do this because of our gospel call to offer welcome to the least and most vulnerable among us.
 
First of all, our corporate responsibility as a mission centre is to always, at a minimum, follow local Covid guidelines for safe gatherings. Individual camp directors may decide that additional restrictions are necessary to keep campers safe, including things such as no in-out privileges during camp. At a minimum, directors will be responsible for ensuring camps follow all local guidelines for communicable illness, and to stay updated as those change.
 
Second, each of us has a personal responsibility to consider what we can do to protect one another. Personal responsibility can look like:
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• Updating your Covid-19 vaccination by receiving any boosters that are available.
• Considering getting vaccinated if you have not yet done so, as it is the best way we know of to curb the spread of Covid-19.
• If you aren’t vaccinated, getting tested for Covid-19 no more than two days prior to arriving at camp.
• Not coming to camp if you are feeling even a little bit ill.
• Isolating for 5 days prior to coming to camp, regardless of your vaccination status, to ensure you are not unduly exposing yourself and others to illness.
• Wearing a mask while indoors to avoid spreading illness.
• Ensuring good hygiene through:
  • regular hand washing
  • coughing or sneezing into an elbow or sleeve

Our guiding question for you is: How will you protect the precious neighbour that sits beside you at camp?
 
We also encourage everyone to respect one another’s choices in how they have responded to Covid. Regardless of our individual views on vaccinations or public health mandates, we come together as one community who find unity in diversity. Some people will feel more comfortable wearing a mask and keeping their distance, others will be ready to embrace everyone. Please respect the speed and space of each person’s engagement at camp.
 
We can’t wait to raise our voices to sing “We’re all together again, we’re here, we’re here” in the sacred spaces we find ourselves gathering in this summer, and to also sing the words together “We are one in the Spirit”.

Yours in Christ,
Gwyn, Kat, and Shannon
[email protected]
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